Ok, yesterday I started cold and it choked and dies and threw a code. No spare time so I planned on taking it to dealer today. This morning it would not run. I would start and it would sputter and die. Sometimes I could get it going at a high RPM but any time I let it return to idel it would choke and die. Engine light is on.

I have about 8-10K miles on the fuel filter. I pulled the filter out and it was black. I blew it off and put it back in. Still would die but I managed to get it running and held it a fast idle until it warmed and drove it to autoparts. Bought a new fuel filter and changed it in the parking lot. Truck started and ran ok (warm).

Is the CTD really this sensitive to a dirty fuel filter?
Is it normal to only get 8k miles out of a filter between changes?
Is the lift pump weak and could that be why it pukes and dies when one speck of dirt lands on the filter?
Is it typical to get next to NO warning of a dirty filter before the truck becomes totally inop?
This is really pizzing me off...

 

Black is the normal color for a used fuel filter. The behavior you describe is not a clogged fuel filter or poor fuel supply. It would be just the opposite - run at idle and die under load or throttle.

 

Sounds like one of your injectors are leaking... either that or the tps

 

Got the truck back from the dealer Friday. They replaced a faulty cam position sensor and installed the tank mounted fuel lift pump upgrade. Truck runs much better, smoother idle and more power.

The only annoying thing was my in house (bumper to bumper) warranty. They do not cover "engineering upgrades". After complaining loudly I got a the lift pump under warranty and paid for 2 hours labor.

 

Sounds like you got the problem fixed and a LP upgrade to boot. Good deal.

So that's what they're calling arbitrary warranty denials these days - "engineering upgrades?"

 

Yep... I B iched about the fact that my truck wa broke and there was no alternative to the repair so they covered the part only. They also waived the deductible because I have had the truck in 3 times for this problem.